The AHMM ED&I Working Group precipitated through conversations from different voices and backgrounds within the practice. This came through a combination of work undertaken over a number of years by the Partnerships Group, actions identified through the Gender Pay Gap Action Plan, and public discussions around race in summer 2020.
At AHMM we design buildings and spaces for diverse society with a range of requirements, ambitions, and perspectives. The more inclusive and equitable our place of work is, the better equipped we are to design buildings that provide for this society.
To support the practice in delivering against this ambition, we are focused on interrogating our Data to help us reflect on who we are and assist with setting targets on where we want to be, celebrating the diverse Cultures that exists at AHMM, providing our staff with the Resources to engage with the subject, and furthering Engagement with the wider profession.
The ED&I Working Group has organised required actions into four categories: Data, Culture, Resources, and Engagement.
Data is critical to understanding the makeup of the practice and inform evidence based decision making. We continue to collect data across selected diversity criteria.
Culture focuses on creating and fostering a safe and inclusive place to work by developing internal social and developmental platforms, and supportive events and initiatives that address inequality within the industry and the practice. Over the last year, in close collaboration with the Partnerships group, the culture strand has been responsible for delivering events acknowledging cultural history months and awareness weeks including LGBTQ+ History Month, Women's History Month, Black History Monty, Trans Awareness Week, Trans Day of Remembrance, World Aids Day and Mental Health Week.
Resources focuses on identifying opportunities at all levels across the practice to discuss and explore Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in relation to the way that we work and the work that we produce. Working with The Other Box Consulting, the resources strand commissioned a training program that has been offered to all AHMM employees.
Engagement develops relationships and partnerships with external groups and organisations. This can be both formally through agreements or informally through ongoing discussions and conversations.
To read more about our Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, please download our full 2024 report here.
